PhilHealth reinforces support for Filipinos living with HIV/AIDS

HEALTHIER LIVES Through its outpatient human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, Philhealth ensures access to all minimum essential services necessary for effective HIV management. IMAGE FROM PHILHEALTH

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by providing increased financial access to essential health care through its comprehensive outpatient HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) treatment coverage.

The enhanced Outpatient HIV Treatment (OHAT) Package now provides P58,500 in annual benefit, a 95 percent increase from the previous P30,000. The package includes antiretroviral therapy for all individuals with positive HIV test results, confirmed by certified institutions regardless of their clinical or immunologic status.

This enhancement is aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to continually improve and sustain the health insurer's health care benefits by ensuring adequate financial support to patients that are seeking medical treatment.

The OHAT Package can be accessed through any of the 234 PhilHealth-accredited Department of Health-designated HIV Treatment facilities nationwide.

With this improved OHAT Package, PhilHealth not only hopes to support HIV patients to seek appropriate management but also to reassure and encourage other PhilHealth members to sign up for regular testing.

The state-insurer also emphasized that a separate package for Tuberculosis-Directly Observed Therapy (TB-DOTS) may be reimbursed at accredited TB-DOTS facilities.

In 2024, PhilHealth disbursed a total of P1.66 billion for 176,819 Outpatient HIV/AIDS Package benefit claims.